Pumpkin Head Trend
Every October, the internet swaps its head for a jack-o'-lantern. This year the pumpkin floats.
Post it today. Everyone gets it, nobody's tired of it.
The pumpkin head trend is a fall TikTok tradition: people pose for photos wearing a carved pumpkin over their head, or, in the 2026 version, hold a real pumpkin up to the camera so it covers a friend's head while they dance. The photoshoot began in fall 2020 and returned in 2021 and 2022, often set to Jack Stauber's "Oh Klahoma." In October 2026 the Pumpkin Head Illusion is back on TikTok's trend lists.
Who's in it?
What does Pumpkin Head Trend mean?
The pumpkin head trend doesn't carry a hidden meaning: it is a playful, slightly spooky way to welcome Halloween. Know Your Meme calls the pumpkin head trend a seasonal fall trend on TikTok in which people take a series of photos wearing a pumpkin or jack-o'-lantern on their heads, then post them as a compilation.
There are two ways to do the pumpkin head trend. The photoshoot is the original: Dexerto describes carving a pumpkin big enough to wear, with the opening cut at the bottom, then posing in a fall setting such as a forest or a farm. The Pumpkin Head Illusion is the 2026 twist reported by NewEngen: a friend holds a real pumpkin right up to the lens so it swallows your head on screen, and your body does the acting below.
Why did Pumpkin Head Trend take off?
The pumpkin head trend keeps coming back because it costs one pumpkin and looks great. A carved jack-o'-lantern glowing at golden hour in a pumpkin patch is a ready-made fall picture, and hiding the face gives an ordinary family or couple photo a spooky twist.
The 2026 illusion made the pumpkin head trend even easier. NewEngen calls it "one prop and zero editing": no carving, no wearing a heavy gourd, just a friend holding the pumpkin steady by its stem while you dance. Without a pumpkin patch nearby, NewEngen notes the same audio works for decorating the house.
And the pumpkin head trend has a track record. Know Your Meme logs big posts from earlier seasons, from a 58.9 million-view video with a dad and his son in 2021 to a Megan Thee Stallion photo series in 2022.
Where did Pumpkin Head Trend come from?
Know Your Meme traces the pumpkin head trend to fall 2020. It doesn't name who started the pumpkin head trend, but one of the first known examples was posted to YouTube by KentuckyTwinFlames Blended Family on November 1, 2020, after first appearing on a since-deleted TikTok account.
In fall 2021 the pumpkin head trend grew as the "Pumpkin Challenge." On October 10, 2021, @hannahstocking posted a version with King Bach that passed 23 million views in a year, and on October 15, @kjp posted one with his son that passed 58.9 million. The #pumpkinchallenge hashtag had more than 69 million views by October 2022, when the pumpkin head trend came back again: on October 1, 2022, Megan Thee Stallion posted a pumpkin head photo series on Twitter that drew more than 290,000 likes in four days.
The pumpkin head trend returned for fall 2026 with the illusion. NewEngen's October 2026 TikTok trends roundup lists the Pumpkin Head Illusion, set to a groovy, spooky remix of the "it's just a bunch of hocus pocus" line.
- One of the first known pumpkin head photoshoot videos is posted to YouTube.
- @kjp's Pumpkin Challenge with his son passes 58.9 million views in a year.
- Megan Thee Stallion posts a pumpkin head photo series on Twitter: 290,000+ likes in four days.
- The #pumpkinchallenge hashtag passes 69 million views.
- NewEngen's October 2026 TikTok trends roundup lists the Pumpkin Head Illusion, the pumpkin head trend's new twist.
Popular versions of Pumpkin Head Trend
The pumpkin head photoshoot
The original: a carved jack-o'-lantern worn like a helmet, a fall backdrop and a series of poses posted as a slideshow, often set to "Oh Klahoma" by Jack Stauber. Dexerto says "Monster Mash" also shows up in these videos.
The Pumpkin Head Illusion
The 2026 version of the pumpkin head trend: hold a pumpkin by the stem right up to the lens, line it up over a friend's head a few steps back, and film as they dance. NewEngen suggests shooting at golden hour so the pumpkin glows.
Couples and family pumpkin heads
Know Your Meme's biggest examples are shared ones: a dad with his son, two creators together, a couple. Dexerto also describes people teaming up with friends and family for their pumpkin head trend shoots.
How to post Pumpkin Head Trend on TikTok
- For the photoshoot, carve a large pumpkin with the opening at the bottom so it fits over your head, and bring a friend to help you see.
- Pose in a fall spot such as a pumpkin patch, a farm or a forest, then post the shots as a slideshow.
- For the 2026 pumpkin head trend illusion, have a friend hold a pumpkin by its stem right up to the lens over your head while you dance.
- Add a spooky fall sound and post it with your pumpkin head trend caption.
Questions about Pumpkin Head Trend
What is the pumpkin head trend?
The pumpkin head trend is a fall TikTok trend where people post photos or videos with a pumpkin where their head should be, either a carved jack-o'-lantern worn over the head or a pumpkin held up to the camera.
What song is used for the pumpkin head trend on TikTok?
The classic photoshoot is often set to "Oh Klahoma" by Jack Stauber, and Dexerto mentions "Monster Mash." The 2026 illusion uses a groovy, spooky remix of the "it's just a bunch of hocus pocus" line.
How do you do the pumpkin head illusion?
Hold a real pumpkin by the stem right up to the lens and line it up over your friend's head while they stand a few steps back. They dance and spin, and the pumpkin stays steady. This pumpkin head trend needs no editing.
How do you make a pumpkin head photoshoot?
Carve a large pumpkin with the opening cut at the bottom so it fits over your head, go somewhere autumnal like a farm or a forest, and take a series of photos with friends or family.
Where did the pumpkin head trend start?
Know Your Meme traces the pumpkin head trend to TikTok in fall 2020, with one of the first known videos posted to YouTube on November 1, 2020. It came back in 2021, 2022 and again in 2026.
Can you do the pumpkin head trend as a couple?
Yes. Couples, friends and families are a big part of the pumpkin head trend, and ours puts each of you in your own glowing jack-o'-lantern side by side.
What do you wear for a pumpkin head photoshoot?
Since your face is hidden in the pumpkin head trend, your clothes are how people tell it's you, so wear something recognisable. Cozy fall outfits like flannel and denim suit the pumpkin patch.
Is the pumpkin head trend safe?
Dexerto advises caution and recommends having a friend or family member with you while you wear the pumpkin. The illusion version of the pumpkin head trend skips that: nobody wears anything.
Can I make a pumpkin head picture without a pumpkin?
Yes. Ours turns a photo of you into a pumpkin head photoshoot in a pumpkin patch, or a pumpkin head illusion video where you dance under a floating pumpkin, keeping your own clothes so it's clearly you.
How much does it cost to make a pumpkin head picture or video?
Reading is free. Making your own costs 5 credits for an image or 10 credits for a video, and a render that fails is refunded.
Sources
What changed on this page
Updated Oct 15, 2026
- Page published with dated sources.
- Tightened the page to the site's 1,200–1,600-word standard; no facts changed.
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